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Playa del Carmen Cooking Class: Authentic Traditional Mexican Cuisine Instruction
4.8
38 Ratings
Playa del Carmen
Learn the art of traditional Mexican cuisine at Isa’s Authentic Mexican Cooking School in Playa del Carmen. Get hands-on experience and discover the secrets of authentic flavors.
Learn the art of traditional Mexican cuisine at Isa’s Authentic Mexican Cooking School in Playa del Carmen. Get hands-on experience and discover the secrets of authentic flavors.
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Calle 24 Nte 158 - At the start of the class, participants will gather at the local market, DAC. There will be a brief discussion about the day’s lesson and the dishes to be prepared. One main dish will be selected to cook (refer to potential options from our sample menu). Additionally, traditional salsas, two types of guacamole, corn tortillas,…
- Calle 24 Nte 158 - At the start of the class, participants will gather at the local market, DAC. There will be a brief discussion about the day’s lesson and the dishes to be prepared. One main dish will be selected to cook (refer to potential options from our sample menu). Additionally, traditional salsas, two types of guacamole, corn tortillas, and a fresh beverage made from seasonal fruits will be prepared. After this discussion and market tour, participants will proceed to Isa’s home kitchen to cook. Please note that some dishes may require seasonal ingredients, and substitutions may be made as needed.
What's Included
- Lunch
- Bottled water
- Small-group cooking class - limited to 8 people.
- Print out of recipes.
- Lunch
- Bottled water
- Small-group cooking class - limited to 8 people.
- Print out of recipes.
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Transportation to/from class (although we are happy to provide info on how to get to class.
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Transportation to/from class (although we are happy to provide info on how to get to class.
Meal Options
- Side Dishes - Prepare two traditional Mexican salsas, and two types of guacamole served with tortilla chips.
- Main Dish Options (choose one) - Mole Poblano w/ Chicken, Green Mole w/ Chicken, Pork or Fish (Mexico City)
- Main Dish Options - Tiikin Xic Fish (Yucatan), A la Talla Fish (Guerrero), Fish a la Veracruzana (Veracruz), Cochinita or Chicken…
- Side Dishes - Prepare two traditional Mexican salsas, and two types of guacamole served with tortilla chips.
- Main Dish Options (choose one) - Mole Poblano w/ Chicken, Green Mole w/ Chicken, Pork or Fish (Mexico City)
- Main Dish Options - Tiikin Xic Fish (Yucatan), A la Talla Fish (Guerrero), Fish a la Veracruzana (Veracruz), Cochinita or Chicken Pibil (Yucatan)
- Main Dish Options - Tostadas w/ beef or fish (Mexico City), Fresh Fish Ceviche (Caribbean), Chicken Tinga (Mexico City), Tacos al Pastor (Mexico City)
- Main Dish Options - Chile Relleno w/ cheese or shrimp & cheese, Chiles en Nogada (Puebla) and only available in August.
Additional Information
Isa’s Authentic Mexican Cooking School is the first culinary school teaching cooking classes in the heart of down town Playa del Carmen. Isa’s cooking classes are dedicated to the art of classic traditional Mexican cuisine. The school is is located in a home kitchen close to the local market where you will visit and learn about Mexican ingredients (as…
Isa’s Authentic Mexican Cooking School is the first culinary school teaching cooking classes in the heart of down town Playa del Carmen. Isa’s cooking classes are dedicated to the art of classic traditional Mexican cuisine. The school is is located in a home kitchen close to the local market where you will visit and learn about Mexican ingredients (as well as purchase some of the ingredients you will need for your class). In this class you will create a well-rounded, multi-dish lunch in a small class setting (no more than 8 students in class). Classes are hands-on and some demonstration, so be prepared to work!
Chef Isa (and/ or Chef Pavel, Isa’s cooking partner and husbad) is not only a cooking class teacher, she is also a professional chef with over 10 years of cooking experience. She/ he is thrilled to share their knowledge on cooking techniques in addition to teaching you how to make authentic Mexican dishes.
- Vegans & vegetarians welcome.
- No children under the age of 8. Children 8 to 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Location
DAC Verduras y Frutas
Please meet Isa at the local market before heading to her home kitchen. DAC is located on 30 Avenida Norte Mz 34 lote 10, entre Constituyentes y Calle 22, Gonzalo Guerrero, 77710 Playa del Carmen, Q.R. After the market tour, Isa will transport you to her home kitchen.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(38 Ratings)
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Entrep
Dec 23, 2025
Enjoyable cooking class - Although I was almost an hour late due to my relying on the NCL time zone which is different from the local time zone, they accommodated me giving me my own cooking class. I enjoyed the class and the food was delicious. I appreciate the warmth and the descriptions of how food is prepared by the Mayans. I am not sure if I can replicate all of them due to some of the ingredients but I will try. I thought the lime soup was outstanding.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Suzanne_r
Nov 12, 2025
BEST part of our vacation! - The BEST part of our vacation!
One of our favorite travel traditions is taking a local cooking class wherever we go, and our experience with Chef Isa in Playa del Carmen was absolutely wonderful. Isa and her husband are both chefs who owned a restaurant for many years before deciding to focus on teaching cooking classes—something that allows her to share her love of Mexican cuisine while balancing family life.
Our class started at a local market, where Isa walked us through the aisles explaining local ingredients and their uses. She took the time to show us different varieties of peppers, comparing how they look and taste when raw versus dried, and explaining how each adds a unique flavor to Mexican dishes. After gathering our ingredients, we walked to her, welcoming kitchen where Isa’s sweet mother-in-law joined us to help with the meal preparation.
We each had our own cutting board and apron, and Isa quickly had us chopping onions, tomatoes, garlic, and cilantro—all while sharing cooking tips and bits of culinary history. We made several dishes, including a traditional guacamole and a creative version with pomegranate seeds and ginger that I can’t wait to recreate at home. We also prepared a flavorful green sauce (my husband’s favorite), a smoky roasted salsa, and the star of the meal—chicken tinga, cooked in several delicious variations.
Everything we made was bursting with flavor, and by the end of the class, we were happily stuffed full of goodness. Isa’s English was excellent, her instructions were easy to follow, and her enthusiasm for teaching made the whole experience fun and relaxed. Her mother-in-law even served us a refreshing hibiscus tea that perfectly complemented the meal.
Every bite was YUMMY, and the experience gave us a deeper appreciation for authentic Mexican cooking. We’ll definitely keep up our tradition of taking cooking classes on vacation—and Chef Isa’s class will be hard to beat! You can sign up with her directly for a cooking class at emily@cozumelchef.com.
Thank you Chef Isa!
Review provided by Viator
Kelly_z
Jul 4, 2025
This was an exceptional... - This was an exceptional experience. It was fun, engaging, educational, enlightening, and we couldn’t praise its value enough. From shopping for peppers to practicing charring techniques to enjoying the meal, this was everything we’d hoped for. Absolutely loved it.
Review provided by Viator
I4919cgmatthewk
Mar 31, 2025
Informative, fun, and filling! - This class was a really great experience. Isa was extremely knowledgeable, welcoming, and spoke English fluently. We enjoyed all of the dishes that we prepared in the class. It gave really great insight into Mexican ingredients and commonly prepared dishes. Would highly recommend this course to everyone.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Katiepi2623ro
Mar 11, 2025
Immersive cooking experience - We had the best experience with Isa... from going to a local market to select ingredients, to learning a few knife skills, preparing the dishes and enjoying them. We appreciated learning about the culture; it felt like a truly authentic experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Scottcb1328wa
Feb 17, 2025
Amazing cooking class with an amazing teacher - I can only give Isa's authentic Mexican cooking class a 5 out of 5 because it won't let me put 10 out of 5. This was an amazing experience. Isa took us through the market and explained all of the peppers and produce. She then took us to the apartment and taught us how to make two different sauces and two types of guac. She explained everything on detail. She had us make the tortillas and in the end we produced an amazing meal of Tikin Xic Fish a local, regional dish from the Yucatán. We got the tequila option as well and she explained all of the intricacies with tequila and mezcal while tasting a variety. The experience was amazing and I highly recommend that you book this adventure and meet this amazing women and her mother in law, next time your in Playa del Carmen.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Natalie_e
Feb 11, 2025
Try something different! - My freind and I decided on this class, It was wonderful! Isa is lovely and very patient and knowledgable! We had four in class and it was great, the other two were fun, couldn’t have asked for anything better. The food was awesome and I feel I can incorporate many of the ideas into other recipes! We even had cactus and it was pretty good!
Review provided by Viator
Robert_a
Jan 23, 2025
Great class. Lot of fun. - It’s was a great teacher. At DAC she explained the different chiles and other ingredients. Her apartment is set up well for cooking and prepping ingredients. The recipes were wonderful and not difficult. The food was plentiful and delicious. We look forward to trying to repeat at home.
Review provided by Viator
Jon_b
Jan 15, 2025
An cooking class not to be missed. - An excellent experience. A broad selection of local cuisine with the tour participants involved in all aspects of preparation and cooking of the food. And of course then there was the consumption of what we had created, which was icing on the cake! The chef was incredibly knowledgeable and personable.
Review provided by Viator
Denise_r
Jan 9, 2025
Excellent cooking experience! - Loved the local market tour learning the local fruits and vegetables. Small group in local apartment cooking food.
Review provided by Viator
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